Western Border Football League

The Western Border Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Lower South East region of South Australia, and south-western border region of Victoria. It is an affiliated member of the South Australian National Football League. The league used to be regarded as the premier country football league in South Australia, and a leading country Victorian league, however the number of clubs and standard has declined in recent years.

Western Border Football League
SportAustralian rules football
Founded1964 (1964)
PresidentDarren Philps[1]
No. of teams6
CountryAustralia
Most recent
champion(s)
Millicent Football Club
Most titlesSouth Gambier Football Club
(12 premierships)
Sponsor(s)Bendigo Bank[2]
Related
competitions
SANFL

Brief history

In 1964, after almost a decade of discussions, the Western District Football League in Victoria and the South-East & Border Football League in South Australia merged to form the Western Border Football League. The founding 12 clubs were Casterton, Coleraine, East Gambier, Hamilton, Hamilton Imperials, Heywood, Millicent, North Gambier, Penola, Portland, South Gambier and West Gambier.[3][4]

Hamilton and Millicent both had jumpers similar to Collingwood's, so an agreement was made that the team that finished lower on the ladder for 1964 had to change jumpers. Hamilton finished ninth, while Millicent finished 11th of 12, so Millicent was forced to change to the St Kilda strip.

Penola left and joined the Kowree-Naracoorte Football League in 1988; Coleraine left and joined the South West District Football League in 1995.

In 2011, the Heywood Football Club left the Western Border Football League due to the club struggling to compete with the larger town clubs in the league. Their first application to leave was rejected, so they were forced to go to higher levels at the VCFL to resolve issues between the League and the Heywood Football Netball Club.

In 2012, the Hamilton and Hamilton Imperials club merged upon recommendation from the VCFL and competed in the Hampden Football Netball League from 2013. Portland also transferred to the Hampden Football Netball League for 2013, leaving just 6 teams in the competition today. Casterton merged with neighbouring club Sandford (from the South West District Football League) in 2014. When the VFL had zoning from 1968 to 1986 the league was allocated to Collingwood.

Some famous players that have played in the Western Border Football League have been Billy Picken, Matthew Clarke, Nick Daffy, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Mal Michael, John Mossop, Wally Lovett.

Clubs

Current

Colours Club Nickname Years in comp Premiers
won
Premiership Years
Casterton-Sandford Cats 1964-
2
19691, 19901
East Gambier Bulldogs 1964-
9
1965, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1982, 1983, 1988, 2017
Millicent Saints 1964-
4
1984, 2018, 2021, 2022
North Gambier Tigers 1964-
9
1964, 1979, 1987, 1989, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019
South Gambier Demons 1964-
12
1974, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2015
West Gambier Roos 1964-
3
1971, 2010, 2011
Notes
1 As the Casterton Football Club

Former

Colours Club Nickname Years in comp Premiers
won
Premiership Years Notes
Coleraine Maroons 1964–94
1
1967 Transferred in the South West District Football League in 1995
Hamilton Magpies 1964–2012
4
1968, 1970, 1981, 2004 Merged with the Imperials and moved to the Hampden Football League in 2013
Hamilton Imperials Bulldogs 1964–2012
6
1977, 1978, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2001 Merged with the Magpies and moved to the Hampden Football League in 2013
Heywood Lions 1964–2011
0
Transferred in the South West District Football League in 2012
Penola Blues 1964–87
0
transferred to the Kowree Naracoorte FL in 1988, now in the KNTFL
Portland Tigers 1964–2012
8
1966, 1985, 1986, 1991, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 Transferred to the Hampden Football League in 2013

Timeline

Notable WBFL Players

Bibliography

  • Encyclopedia of South Australian country football clubs compiled by Peter Lines. ISBN 9780980447293
  • South Australian country football digest by Peter Lines ISBN 9780987159199

References

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